The "first next step" in our chapter's invigorated effort to make Westchester NOW more visible and viable as a political entity was to have a meeting with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton's Westchester Regional Director, Geri Shapiro. And so, on the morning on April 6, Luba Fineson, Susan Damplo and I met with her.

Our specific objectives were to:

Refresh and increase the senator's awareness of the overall purpose of NOW and to identify some of our priority areas of concern such as: choice/reproductive freedom, equal rights (i.e., equal pay for equal work, lesbian rights, etc.), ending violence against women, health care, ending racism;
Obtain reassurance from the senator that she is generally in accord with our issues;
In anticipation of the senator's agreement, to let her know Westchester NOW will recruit women who will be able to volunteer to work in her campaign.

I left the meeting feeling our basic objectives had been accomplished. Nevertheless, I felt it was abundantly clear there is a need for further contact. Susan Damplo will follow up with respect to obtaining Geri's agreement to participate in a NOW event where she will have an opportunity to explain the range of constituent services she offers.

Moreover, as we talked, it also became clear there are resources which presently exist that address the needs of women such as Planned Parenthood, component programs sponsored by Westchester Community Services and the Westchester NOW information phone. Nevertheless, there needs to be increased public awareness of the availability of these and other services which are geared to serve women in Westchester. More importantly, there is a plethora of needs that are not being sufficiently being addressed including but not limited to the problem of women and violence, divorce, women and their finances, the lack of insurance which will allow access to health services, and the need for adequate child care.

Accordingly, thought will be given to planning a large-scale countywide conference dealing with empowering women and advocacy. Such a conference might be planned in conjunction with a special "think tank." The think tank would consist of representatives from agencies, organizations, colleges and elected officials. An open invitation will be extended to NOW members and others inviting participation. Watch for it!

For more information about Westchester NOW, e-mail us at info@westchesternow.org!

This web site is designed and maintained by Sylvia Eusebi.